Festival Calendar 2010

The best way to sample India’s colourful music, dance and culture is one of the country’s incredible festivals. Plan your holiday around our pick of the best.

January

January

On the 26 January, celebrate National Day across India, marking the date when India was voted a democratic republic in 1950. There will be celebrations across the country, including New Delhi’s huge parades, bands, exhibitions and speeches.

March

March

This Hindu event welcomes the arrival of spring. You’ll see devotees singing, dancing and Rajasthani women parading through Udaipur in their best clothes, carrying images of the goddess Gauri.

February

February

The Carnival of Goa is the time to indulge in feasting and having fun before the start of Lent. It is one of the eagerly awaited events of the year. There’s a fantastic atmosphere, with parades, music, dancing and street entertainers.

June

June

Hindus travel to the banks of the Ganges River in Varanasi each year for the Ganga Dussehra, a 10-day religious festival. The holy river is worshipped and used to wash away sins, with devotees visiting bathing ghats lining the river bank.

Attend the largest music festival in India. Listen to jazz, rock and worldwide sounds and wander around art exhibitions or watch a theatre performance. Workshops are available for aspiring musicians.

September/October

September/October

One of India’s most spectacular festivals, Durga Puja is performed by the Bengalese all over India as they worship goddess Durga in a carnival atmosphere. Glittering pandals – temporary structures housing religious idols – pop up, all competing to be the most colourful or elaborate, and are finally cast into the rivers to music and celebration.

February/March

February/March

Holi – the ‘festival of colours’ – is celebrated in India to welcome the season of spring and the end of winter. The event starts with bonfires being lit the evening before. The next day, a rainbow effect fills the streets with people throwing colourful water and ‘gulal’ powder at each other. The happy spirit of this event is topped off with dancing and folk songs.

October/November

October/November

The Festival of Lights – Diwali – is associated with the worship of Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity. Earthen lamps or candles are lit all over India and many people decorate the pavements with colourful patterns.